Calling payphones at random

   Have you ever written down a number for a payphone, and later called it to see who would answer and what would happen? I have. I'm not the only one. A little researching and I discovered that it is a common thing. These kids did this in the late '70s:

http://illahie.blogspot.ca/2012/08/calling-phone-booths-for-fun.html


   The most famous is probably the Mojave Phone Booth, which was installed in the Mojave Desert near Baker, California, in 1960, and little-used until around 1997, when people noticed this remote phone booth, and started posting its phone number and calling it at random. It became a little famous, inspiring movies of various kinds, which led to its downfall, as it became so covered with graffiti and garbage by visitors that it was removed.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-mojave-phone-booth.htm 

   It even inspired some movies, one of which I've seen (starring Steve Guttenberg, of all people). It wasn't a bad little movie ("Mojave Phone Booth (2006)"):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470864/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 


   If you want to call some random payphone numbers around the world, go ahead. This site lists a lot. I don't know if these actually work anymore. (I know that in my city, the phone company blocked the ability to call in to certain payphones in bad areas, to discourage drug dealing, although with the rise of cellphones and smartphones, I don't think many people actually call payphones anymore.)

http://www.payphone-project.com/numbers/

The payphones are a dying race

Usually when payphones are neglected by the phone company and consumers alike, they just look ragged and beaten. This one looked like it died in the desert and all that's left is its bones.